What is Marcopoloni?

Our goal is to bring people like you, who cherish and appreciate fine artistry, closer to the artisans who create them. Everything we offer is handmade by carefully-selected artisans who pour their love and pride into each piece of work.

Much as Marco Polo brought the Western world in contact with the treasures of the Far East in the late 13th century, Marcopoloni strives to put you in touch with beautiful handmade goods from around the world!

Why I Love Handmade Italian Leather Bags

One of the sayings that I grew up with in Italy was: “vender cara la pelle” which literally translates to: “to sell one’s skin dear” meaning that you will fight your best fight to the end. The word “pelle” means both skin and leather in Italian.

Leather is incredibly durable and versatile. Last year, I saw a news report that talked about a pair of handmade leather shoes unearthed in Armenia that were some 5,500 years old. The news caused me to reflect on how we have relied on leather to protect us and serve us in a variety of ways for a very long time.

In Italy, people seem to have a very strong connection to leather products. A lot of people dedicate their lives to working with leather, and the streets are filled with windows displaying those products. As an Italian, If you don’t have leather appreciation in your genes, you will learn it.

So, there is the first reason. I have loved leather for as long as I can remember. More on the topic in my next post.